Here is our complete walkthru for the 1983 arcade version of Dragon's Lair by Cinematronics, set at hard difficulty.

LEGEND

U -

Up

D -

Down

L -

Left

R -

Right

S -

Sword

N -

No
move (Letter "N" in the "correct move" row means that
making no move at all is a correct play. Otherwise, by default, making no move
will cause death.)

Moves colored red require particular timing and are
only correct when performed at the right time, as explained in their comments. They
will cause death if performed too early / late.Moves colored purple will cause a
subsequent software error (a bug) that affects gameplay.

When two joystick moves are listed as correct (such as U and L), diagonal movement in
these directions is also correct, unless otherwise noted. (Yes, this has always been
an 8-way joystick game, with the software processing diagonal input separately and distinctly.)

All moves in the chart will cause the indicated results during the time frame when the
correct move is acceptable. Before this time frame (and after the previous move),
some correct moves and "death moves" may instead cause a buzz, and some "buzz moves" may
instead cause death.

NOTE: All scenes begin with an automatic award of 49 points.

Ropes (fire pit)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

R

R

R

R

49 SCORE

251

379

495

915

CAUSES DEATH

U D L

U D L

U D L

U D L

CAUSES BUZZ

S

S

S

S

SEE COMMENT #

40

41

41

41

40. Move when the rope has swung near Dirk. (2 chances)
41. Move when Dirk nears the end of his swing.TOTAL SCORE: 2,089

Ropes (fire pit) (reversed)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

L

L

L

L

49 SCORE

379

495

0

0

CAUSES DEATH

U D

U D R

U D R

U D R

CAUSES BUZZ

R S

S

S

S

SEE COMMENT #

40 (above)

41 (above)

41 (above)

41 (above)

TOTAL SCORE: 923

Bedroom (closing wall)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

U

49 SCORE

379

CAUSES DEATH

L R

CAUSES BUZZ

D S

TOTAL SCORE: 428

Flying Barding

CORRECT MOVE(S)

R

L

R

L

L

L

49 SCORE

495

495

495

495

1,326

495

CAUSES DEATH

U L

U R

U L

U R

U R

U R

CAUSES BUZZ

D S

D S

D S

D S

D S

D S

SEE COMMENT #

42 & 43

43

43

43

44

43

42. A diagonal Up/Right is also recognized and accepted as a correct move.
43. Move after the fire has appeared.
44. Move after Dirk has passed the pillar on his side and it is out of view.TOTAL SCORE: 3,850

Flying Barding (reversed)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

L

R

L

R

R

R

49 SCORE

915

915

495

495

1,939

495

CAUSES DEATH

U R

U L

U R

U L

U L

U L

CAUSES BUZZ

D S

D S

D S

D S

D S

D S

SEE COMMENT #

45

43 (above)

43 (above)

43 (above)

44 (above)

43 (above)

45. Move after the fire has appeared. A diagonal Up/Left is also
recognized and accepted
as a correct move.TOTAL SCORE: 5,303

47. Move to the Right before Dirk reaches the light orange strip, or else
if Dirk is within the strip, move Up. (Diagonal movement is not correct.)
48. Move to the Left before Dirk reaches the light orange strip, or else
if Dirk is within the strip, move Up. (Diagonal movement is not correct.)
49. This first whirlpool will not appear when the difficulty is hard;
however, the game will still award 251 points after it skips over the video.
50. A diagonal Up/Left is also recognized and accepted as a correct move.
51. A diagonal Up/Right is also recognized and accepted as a correct move.TOTAL SCORE: 4,673

Elevator Floor (3 levels available)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

L

49 SCORE

3,255

CAUSES DEATH

U D R

CAUSES BUZZ

S

SEE COMMENT #

52

52. Move when Dirk is lined up
with a catwalk. (3 chances)
This scene appears twice in one
complete game.TOTAL SCORE: 3,304

Vestibule (small crumbling room)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

D R

R

49 SCORE

251

251

CAUSES DEATH

U L

U L

CAUSES BUZZ

S

D S

TOTAL SCORE: 551

Boulder Trench (colored balls)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

D

D

D

D

D

D

U

49 SCORE

251

379

379

379

379

379

379

CAUSES DEATH

U

U

U

U

U

U

CAUSES BUZZ

L R S

L R S

L R S

L R S

L R S

L R S

D L R S

SEE COMMENT #

53

53

53

53

53

53

54

53. Move after a colored boulder has passed horizontally in front of Dirk.
54. Move when the gap in the floor appears.TOTAL SCORE: 2,574

Three Caves (jagged door / geyser)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

U

U

L

49 SCORE

915

1,326

2,191

CAUSES DEATH

D L R

D L R

R

CAUSES BUZZ

S

S

U D S

SEE COMMENT #

55

56

55. Move when the jagged doors are open. (3 chances)
56. Move when the geyser is at zero height. (3 chances)TOTAL SCORE: 4,481

Knight & Light (Black Knight / horse)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

U R

L

L

R

49 SCORE

379

1,939

1,939

2,675

CAUSES DEATH

U R

U R

U D L

CAUSES BUZZ

D L S

D S

D S

S

SEE COMMENT #

57

57. A diagonal Up/Right is not correct in this instance
and will cause a buzz.TOTAL SCORE: 6,981

Socker Boppers (Grim Reaper)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

U

S

D

U

49 SCORE

4,026

2,191

1,326

915

CAUSES DEATH

L R

D L R

U L R

D L R

CAUSES BUZZ

D S

U

S

S

SEE COMMENT #

58

58. Move immediately after the two socker boppers have crossed
the center path together at the same time. (3 chances)
(This is the official timing criteria as per the game software.)TOTAL SCORE: 8,507

Socker Boppers (Grim Reaper) (reversed)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

U

S

D

U

49 SCORE

4,750

2,191

1,326

915

CAUSES DEATH

L R

U D

U L R

D L R

CAUSES BUZZ

D S

L R

S

S

SEE COMMENT #

58 (above)

TOTAL SCORE: 9,231

Pot of Gold (Lizard King)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

L

R

R

R

R

R

U S

S

S

S

D S

S

49 SCORE

1,939

1,326

1,326

1,326

1,326

2,191

3,255

0

0

0

0

0

CAUSES DEATH

U D R

U D L

U D L

U D L

U D L

U D L

D L R

D

L

R

R

CAUSES BUZZ

S

S

S

S

S

S

U L R

U D R

U D L

U L R

U D L

SEE COMMENT #

59

60

60

60

60

60

61

59. Move when Dirk puts his hands on his head. A diagonal Up/Left is also
recognized and accepted as a correct move.
60. Move when Dirk stops running.
61. A diagonal Down/Left is also recognized and accepted as a correct move.TOTAL SCORE: 12,738

Forge (Smithee)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

S

S

L

S

S

49 SCORE

915

1,939

1,326

1,326

915

CAUSES DEATH

U L R

U L R

D R

R

CAUSES BUZZ

D

D

U S

U D L R

U D L

SEE COMMENT #

62

62

63

64

62. Press the Sword button when the weapon crosses overtop the line of
fire
on the floor during the middle of its descent.
63. Move after the anvil begins to rise off of the floor.
64. Press the Sword button when the camera's view begins to pan towards Dirk.TOTAL SCORE: 6,470

Forge (Smithee) (reversed)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

S

S

R

S

S

49 SCORE

1,326

2,191

1,326

1,326

915

CAUSES DEATH

U L R

U L R

D L

U D L R

L R

CAUSES BUZZ

D

D

U S

U D

SEE COMMENT #

62 (above)

62 (above)

63 (above)

64 (above)

TOTAL SCORE: 7,133

Breathing Door (wind room)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

R

49 SCORE

379

CAUSES DEATH

U

CAUSES BUZZ

D L S

SEE COMMENT #

65

65. Move when the door flashes.TOTAL SCORE: 428

Tentacles & Halberd

CORRECT MOVE(S)

S

U

R

D R

L

U

49 SCORE

49

379

495

915

1,326

1,939

CAUSES DEATH

U

D S

D L S

U L S

U D S

D L R S

CAUSES BUZZ

D L R

L R

U

R

SEE COMMENT #

66

67

68

66. Move Down when the stairs flash.
67. Move when the bench flashes.
68. After Dirk has landed on the bench, move when the door opens for the
first or second
time. (2 chances) A diagonal Up/Right is also recognized and accepted as a
correct move.TOTAL SCORE: 5,152

Mist Room (snakes)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

S

S

S

U R

49 SCORE

495

2,675

49

1,939

CAUSES DEATH

L

R

L

CAUSES BUZZ

U D R

U D L

U D R

D L S

TOTAL SCORE: 5,207

Wizard's Chamber (Cauldron Wizard / slime)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

U

S

D

S

R

49 SCORE

2,191

3,255

3,255

2,191

1,326

CAUSES DEATH

D L R

U D L R

U L R

U L

U L

CAUSES BUZZ

S

S

D R

D S

SEE COMMENT #

69

69. A diagonal Down/Right is also recognized and accepted as a correct move.TOTAL SCORE: 12,267

YMCA Room (flattening stairs)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

L

S

L

L

49 SCORE

495

1,939

915

1,326

CAUSES DEATH

D

D R S

U D R

CAUSES BUZZ

U R S

U D L R

U

S

SEE COMMENT #

70

70. A diagonal Up/Left is also recognized and accepted
as a correct move.
(This comment appears under the 4th move intentionally,
while for the easy difficulty chart, it appears under the 3rd move.)TOTAL SCORE: 4,724

Spiral Staircase (Giddy Goons)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

S

R

S

U L

49 SCORE

379

1,326

3,255

0

CAUSES DEATH

U L R

U L S

U D L

D S

CAUSES BUZZ

D

D

R

R

SEE COMMENT #

71

72

71. A diagonal Up/Right is also recognized and accepted
as a correct move.
72. Press the Sword button when the giddy goons appear
at the top of the stairs.TOTAL SCORE: 5,009

Fire Room (lightning / bench over exit)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

R

U L

D L

L

49 SCORE

915

1,326

915

1,326

CAUSES DEATH

U D L

D R

U R

U D R

CAUSES BUZZ

S

S

S

S

SEE COMMENT #

73

73. Move when the second bolt appears from the ceiling.TOTAL SCORE: 4,531

Yellow Brick Road (pool of water / spider)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

L

U

R

U

L

U

S

R

U

49 SCORE

1,326

1,939

2,191

2,675

3,255

3,551

4,026

5,000

4,750

CAUSES DEATH

U D R

L R

U D L

D L R

U D R S

D L R

D L

D L

D L R

CAUSES BUZZ

S

D S

S

S

S

U R

U S

S

TOTAL SCORE: 28,762

Yellow Brick Road (pool of water / spider) (reversed)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

R

U

L

U

R

U

S

L

U

49 SCORE

1,939

2,191

2,675

3,255

3,551

4,026

4,026

5,000

4,750

CAUSES DEATH

U L

L

U D R

D L R

U D L S

D L R

D R

D R

D L R

CAUSES BUZZ

D S

D R S

S

S

S

U L

U S

S

TOTAL SCORE: 31,462

Catwalk (bats)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

U

U L

S

R

R

49 SCORE

915

915

2,675

915

3,551

CAUSES DEATH

D R

D R

U L R

D L

U D L

CAUSES BUZZ

L S

S

D

U S

S

SEE COMMENT #

74

75

74. Left will only be accepted near the end of the time frame allotted for the move,
and then the timing for all further moves in the scene will be shifted, requiring
them to be performed late. (Diagonal Up/Left succeeds as Up does, without error.)
75. A diagonal Up/Right is also recognized and accepted as a correct move.TOTAL SCORE: 9,020

Chapel (Robot Knight / checkered floor)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

R

L

U

L

R

L

R

S

49 SCORE

1,939

1,939

2,191

1,939

1,939

1,939

4,026

2,191

CAUSES DEATH

U D L

U D R

D L R

U D R

U D L

U D R

U L

U

CAUSES BUZZ

S

S

S

S

S

S

D S

D L R

SEE COMMENT #

76

76. Move when Dirk is in mid-jump.TOTAL SCORE: 18,152

Chapel (Robot Knight / checkered floor) (reversed)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

L

R

U

R

L

R

L

S

49 SCORE

2,191

2,191

2,675

2,191

2,191

2,191

4,750

2,675

CAUSES DEATH

U D R

U D L

D L R

U D L

U D R

U D L

U D R

U

CAUSES BUZZ

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

D L R

TOTAL SCORE: 21,104

Giant Bat

CORRECT MOVE(S)

S

L

U L

S

L

49 SCORE

1,326

2,191

1,326

3,551

49

CAUSES DEATH

R

D

L R

R

CAUSES BUZZ

U D L R

U D S

R S

U D

U D S

TOTAL SCORE: 8,492

Throne Room

CORRECT MOVE(S)

R

U

R

R

49 SCORE

1,326

3,255

2,675

1,939

CAUSES DEATH

U D L

D L R

U D L S

D L

CAUSES BUZZ

S

S

U S

SEE COMMENT #

77

78

77. Move when the overhead view of Dirk appears.
78. A diagonal Up/Right is also recognized and accepted
as a correct move.TOTAL SCORE: 9,244

Tilting Room

CORRECT MOVE(S)

D

U

L

49 SCORE

1,939

2,675

1,939

CAUSES DEATH

L R

D L

U D R

CAUSES BUZZ

U S

R S

S

SEE COMMENT #

79

79. Move when the fire directly ahead has subsided.TOTAL SCORE: 6,602

Mudmen

CORRECT MOVE(S)

S

U N

U

U R

U

U

U

U

U R

U

49 SCORE

1,326

1,326

2,191

2,675

1,326

1,326

1,326

1,326

495 1,326

1,326

CAUSES DEATH

U D L R

D L R S

D L R S

D L S

D L R S

D L R S

D L R

D L R S

D L S

CAUSES BUZZ

S

D L R S

SEE COMMENT #

80

81

81 & 82

83

80. Move after Dirk has sheathed his sword. If you make no move, 1,326 points will still be awarded.
81. A diagonal Up/Left is also recognized and accepted as a correct move.
82. Move when the ground flashes.
83. If you move Up, you will receive 495 points and continue on to the next move. If you move Right, you will receive 1,326 points,
and the scene will end without any further moves accepted or points awarded. A diagonal Up/Right is not correct in this instance
and will cause a buzz.TOTAL SCORE AVAILABLE: 14,692

Elevator Floor (9 levels available)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

L R

49 SCORE

3,255

CAUSES DEATH

U D

CAUSES BUZZ

S

SEE COMMENT #

84

84. Move when Dirk is lined up with
a catwalk. (3 chances to move Left,
then 3 chances to move Right,
then 3 more chances to move Left)BONUS SCORE: 49 points fornot jumping at the first 3 stops.
Another 1,939 points for also not
jumping at the middle 3 stops.TOTAL SCORE AVAILABLE: 5,292

Elevator Floor (9 levels available) (reversed)

CORRECT MOVE(S)

L R

49 SCORE

3,255

CAUSES DEATH

U D

CAUSES BUZZ

S

SEE COMMENT #

85

85. Move when Dirk is lined up with
a catwalk. (3 chances to move Right,
then 3 chances to move Left,
then 3 more chances to move Right)BONUS SCORE: 124 points fornot jumping at the first 3 stops.
Another 2,191 points for also not
jumping at the middle 3 stops.TOTAL SCORE AVAILABLE: 5,619

Dragon's Lair

CORRECT MOVE(S)

L

L N

L

D L

U

D L

U

R

U R

R S

S

U L

S

S

49 SCORE

1,326

1,939

1,326

1,326

2,191

1,939

2,191

3,255

2,191

3,551

4,026

2,191

4,750

5,000

CAUSES DEATH

U R S

S

U R S

D L

U D L R

R

CAUSES BUZZ

U D R S

D

U D R S

U R

D L R S

D L R S

U S

D L S

U D L

D S

U D L R

U D L R

SEE COMMENT #

86

87

86. If you make no move, the game will lock up, and no further input will be accepted. The
laserdisc will continue to play until the dragon's body hits the ground,
at which time the software will recover by resetting to the attract mode. However, this error does
not occur (and N is fatal) with ROM revision F2. The correction of this error
is the only difference that exists between ROM revisions F and F2.
87. If you move Down, the software will fail to search for the death scene, and the laserdisc
will continue playing from where it is for the duration of the proper death scene.
Normal operation will then resume with the content that should follow the death scene.TOTAL SCORE: 37,251

MAXIMUM SCORES (hard difficulty)

Total possible score using 1 life

326,248

Total possible score using 3 lives

390,750

Total possible score using 5 lives

455,252

These scores are obtained by allowing both 9-level elevator floors to drop 7 or more levels,
and also by moving 'Up' near the end of the Mudmen scene instead of 'Right'.
The 3-life and 5-life scores are obtained by losing all lives but one at the last sword move of the game.